No. 1 Ohio State drops match against No. 4 Texas, 1-4

AUSTIN, TX – The Ohio State men’s tennis team dropped its second consecutive match on Thursday evening, losing to the Longhorns 1-4.The Buckeyes entered the match coming off their first defeat of 2019, having lost to No. 28 Texas A&M on Monday. Ohio State’s loss to Texas puts them at 16-2 entering conference play. The Buckeyes started the match in competitive fashion, but eventually would lose the doubles point. This was the first time in 2019 Ohio State lost the doubles point. The teams split the first two matches, but Texas would take the third doubles match in a tiebreaker 6-7(4). With the Longhorns up 1-0, it was an uphill battle for the Buckeyes. Texas extended their lead quickly when No. 9 Yuya Ito defeated No. 28 Kyle Seelig 6-0, 6-3. However, the rest of the match was back and forth between players and quite the thriller. The two squads had a combined five sets go to tiebreaker, creating an intense event for a packed crowd at the Texas Tennis Center. Throughout the match teams would trade leads and it would go down to the wire. Unfortunately for Ohio State, Texas would do just enough to clinch the match victory, winning 4-1. Ohio State will look to regroup at full strength next Friday March 22 when the Michigan State Spartans come to Columbus to open conference play. The No. 1 Buckeyes are 16-2 and will begin their journey towards a 16th Big Ten regular season title. Singles Competition1. #4 Christian Sigsgaard (UT) vs. #27 John McNally (OSU) 4-6, 7-5, 2-0, unfinished 2. #9 Yuya Ito (UT) def. #28 Kyle Seelig (OSU) 6-0, 6-33. Leonardo Telles (UT) def. #69 Martin Joyce (OSU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-34. #49 Harrison Scott (UT) vs. #81 Alex Kobelt (OSU) 7-6 (8-6), 6-6, unfinished5. James Trotter (OSU) def. Colin Markes (UT) 6-2, 7-56. Rodrigo Banzer (UT) def. Hunter Tubert (OSU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2Doubles Competition1. #24 Martin Joyce/Hunter Tubert (OSU) def. #13 Harrison Scott/Christian Sigsgaard (UT) 7-5 2. Leonardo Telles/Colin Markes (UT) def. Alex Kobelt/James Trotter (OSU) 7-6 (7-4)3. Yuya Ito/Chih Chi Huang (UT) def. Kyle Seelig/John McNally (OSU) 6-3Match Notes:Ohio State 16-2; National ranking #1Texas 16-1; National ranking #4Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (2,5,6,3)